TCH MINI-STUDY 64
HOW CAN I KNOW I AM SAVED?
By John C. Carpenter
Believers in Christ want to be saved from God's wrath
(Rom 5:9 and 1 Thess 2:16). As we go through life, most [if not all] believers in Christ will eventually have questions, or at least
some doubts, about whether they are truly saved from God's wrath and will eventually have eternal blessings and life in heaven in
the presence of Jesus Christ and God the Father. The question many believers may ask themselves is "How can I really know that I am
saved?" What scripture verses answer this question? Well, there are several that we should examine.
Thought to be the traditional
author, John the evangelist, writing to fellow belivers in various churches spread across Asia Minor, wrote, Whosoever believeth that
Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know
that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments:
and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh
the world, even [specifically] our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is he that came by water and blood, even [specifically] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the
Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word [Greek,logos, the Divine Expression, that is, Jesus Christ; this word does not refer to the bible, but Jesus], and the Holy Ghost: and these
three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in
one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his
Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth
not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe
on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God (1
John 5:1-13). John's clear teaching here is that the believer in Chist can know with certainty that he or she will be saved from God's
wrath and have eternal life because he or she is born of God, and he or she is born of God because he or she believes that Jesus is
the Christ.
Other pertinent verses include:
John wrote, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn
the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16-18). Verily, verily, I say
unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation;
but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice
of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live (John 5:24-25).
In the book of Acts, we read, Then Peter said unto them, Repent [of
your rejection of Jesus Christ], and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise [of receiving the Holy Ghost, and of salvation and of eternal life] is unto you,
and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call (Acts 2:38-39).
Again, believing
in the name of Christ is the key to having eternal life: And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which
are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing
ye might have life through his name (John 20:30-31).
According to scriptures, God is able to keep the believer from falling from
faith and grace and to present us as without fault: Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless
before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both
now and ever. Amen (Jude 1:24-25).
Paul wrote the church in Rome, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;
but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that
we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him,
that we may be also glorified together (Romans 8:15-17), as well as, Who [or what] shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed
all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that
loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things
to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus
our Lord (Romans 8:35-39).
As we have seen over and over again, the new testament scriptures teach us about the necessity of
calling upon the name of the Lord for salvation from God's wrath: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call [Greek, epikaleomai,
to invoke for aid, worship, testimony, or decision, or to appeal unto] on the name [Greek, onoma, a name literally or figuratively,
authority, or character] of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21). The unbeliever must call upon the authority and character of Christ
to receive eternal salvation.
In the story of the conversion of the Philippian jailer, we read, at midnight Paul and Silas prayed,
and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the
prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking
out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners
had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and
sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house (Acts 16:16-31). Again, when the unbeliever
recognizes and comse to believe in the the authority, character, and power, that is, the Christology of the Lord Jesus Christ, that
believer shall be assured of having eternal life.
Talking to Jews who sought to kill Him, Jesus said, For the Father judgeth
no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that
honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my [Christ's] word [of
truth, the gospel message; This word is not referring to the bible], and believeth on him [God the Father] that sent me, hath everlasting
life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming,
and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself;
so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son
of man (John 5:22-27). Here, Jesus is clearly teaching that he who honors the Son as they also honor the Father, hears the gospel
message, and believeth on God the Father who sent Jesus, has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from
death unto life.
The unclear author of Hebrews wrote, By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly
were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an
unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth
to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made
higher than the heavens (Hebrews 7:22-26). This teaching is that Christ, who has an unchangeable priesthood, is abundantly able to
save all to come unto God the Father by Him.
The believer in Christ is assured of his or her salvation because his salvataion
is attested to and preserved by the Holy Spirit: Paul wrote the church in Ephesus, grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are
sealed [Greek, sphragizo, to be stamped with a signet or private mark for security or preservation, to attest to, or sealed up] unto
the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). After the unbeliever comes to faith in Christ, he or she is secure in his or her eternal preservation.
We
are assured of our salvation if we know Him and keep his commands: And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in
him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so
to walk, even as he walked (1 John 2: 3-6).
We know that we shall have eternal life if we love our fellow believers. The apostle
explained, We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth
in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive
we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:14-16). Beloved,
let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth
not God; for God is love (1 John 4:7-8).
We can also be certain of our salvation if we believe and confess that Jesus is the
Christ and Son of God. The apostle John wrotse, we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may
know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life (1 John
5:20), and Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God (1 John 4:15).
True believers
in God and Christ have been given a new heart and a new spirit (Ezek 36:26), their names have been written in the Lamb's book of life
(Rev 21:37), our citizenship will eventually be in heaven (Phil 3:20), we are blessed with all the blessings of heaven (Epph 1:3),
and we are partakers of the diving nature (2 Pet 1:4).
Paul also taught the believers in Rome, and us, Therefore being justified
by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2). As described by Paul, the believer is justified by faith, has peace with God
through Christ, has access to God and shall experience His grace because of our faith, and can rejoice in hope of experiencing the
glory of God.
Again, Jesus put salvation in very simple terms when he told some Jews, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
believeth on me hath everlasting life (John 6:47).
The apostle John also wrote, He came unto his own, and his own received him
not. But as many as received [Greek, lambano, to get hold of, to take literally or figuratively, or to hold, obtain, or receive] him,
to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:11-13). Those who take hold of and obtain the Lord Jesus shall be assured
of salvation from the wrath of God the Father. AMEN.
THE CHRISTIAN HERALD
A
Judeo-Christian Bible Study
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven,
and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread
to the eater: So shall my word [Hebrew, dabar; the speaking, movement, and operation of the Holy Spirit, not the bible] be that goeth
forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the
thing whereto
I sent it
(Isaiah 55:8-11).
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which
ye have learned; and
avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly;
and by good words
and fair speeches deceive
the hearts
of the simple
(Romans 16:17-18).
And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not,
stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD,
which he will shew to you to day:
for the
Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall
see them again no more for ever. The LORD
shall fight for you, and ye shall hold
your
peace.
(Exodus 14:13-14)
(Exodus 14:13-14)
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not
dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee;
yea, I will help thee; yea, I will
uphold thee with the
right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that
were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and
confounded:
they shall be as nothing; and they that
strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them,
and shalt not find them, even them that
contended
with thee: they that war against thee shall be as
nothing, and as a thing of nought. For
I the LORD thy God will hold thy right
hand,
saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee
(Isaiah 41:10-13).
"How much more
shall the blood of Christ, who through
the eternal Spirit offered himself
without spot to God, purge your
conscience
from
dead works to serve
the living God?
(Hebrews 9:14)